Train service between Pakistan, India suspended

By Islamuddin Sajid </p> <p>ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) – Pakistan on Thursday suspended the operation of a train service with India in view of the prevailing tension between two nuclear-armed neighbors. </p> <p>&quot;The operation of Samjhuta Express has been suspended today in view of current tension between Pakistan and India,&quot; Mohammad Faisal, the Foreign Ministry’s spokesman said in a statement.</p> <p>Samjhuta Express, started in 1976, is a bi-weekly train service runs between Indian city of Amritsar and Pakistani city Lahore.</p> <p>It will resume its operation as soon as the security situation improves between both countries, he added. </p> <p>Meanwhile, Pakistan-India friendship bus service operates as per schedule. A bus carrying Delhi-bound passengers left Lahore this morning, Pakistan’s tourism corporation said.</p> <p>The tension escalated between the two nuclear neighbors in the past few weeks, after a suicide bombing, claimed by Jaish-e-Mohammed, in Jammu and Kashmir killed more than 40 Indian paramilitary troops on Feb. 14.</p> <p>The group had been list as a terrorist organization by Islamabad in 2002.</p> <p>On Feb. 26, India claimed that “several terrorists” were killed in an airstrike on a camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed inside Pakistan.</p> <p>Islamabad denied there had been any casualties, saying Indian troops intruded into Pakistan’s airspace and dropped four bombs at an empty forest land while “escaping”.</p> <p>On Feb. 27, Pakistan claimed that its air force shot down two Indian fighter jets and arrested one Indian pilot.</p> <p>India also claimed to have shot down a Pakistani jet. New Delhi also confirmed that it “lost” one aircraft and called for the safe return of its pilot from Pakistan.